12 tricks shops use to make you spend more online – and how to avoid them
BLACK Friday has already started with shops slashing prices on thousands of products.
Despite promises of up to 80 per cent off not all deals are as good as they're cracked up to be - and it's just as easy to fall into a digital spending trap as it is instore.
Online retailers use sneaky tricks to encourage you spend more than you have to - you've probably fallen for them in the past and not realised.
Here are the top 12 tricks from how to avoid them.
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Free delivery if you spend a certain amount
When you're shopping online, you want to avoid the additional cost of paying for delivery. But it's easy to hike up the price of your basket with other items in order to avoid it, and ending up spending much more than you intended.
To avoid doing this, bulk buy items in advance that you frequently order from the internet, such as toiletries. For other items, like clothes, try to find discount codes online.
Just type in their name and "free delivery" or "code" into Google and a whole host of sites usually pop up with advice on current discount codes you can try.
The retailers to watch out for this Black Friday
Black Friday has hit! Here's where you should be doing your shopping:
1. Amazon
Black Friday started 12 days ago for Amazon with big reductions on a huge range of reduced products and more offers added as frequently as every five minutes.
2. Argos
Argos is one of the biggest retailers to take part in Black Friday with deals on TVs, games consoles, laptops, cameras and toys.
3. Tesco
Tesco have slashed priced on tech with incredible deals on TVs, consoles and toys.
4. John Lewis
With discounts across all departments John Lewis have plenty of opportunities for savings, especially in the kitchen with a KitchenAid mixer down to just £299.99 from £449.95.
5. Boots
Boots are offering big discounts on grooming products and a selection of their popular perfumes.
6. Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's kept a low profile in the run up to Black Friday but have now released deals on home appliances and electricals.
7. GAME
GAME has huge deals available on their PS4 and X-box bundles, ideal for Chirstmas gifts.
8. M&S
This weekend M&S have launched a "gifting" event as an alternative to Black Friday. There are great deals on Christmas decorations, cosmetics and lingerie.
9. House of Fraser
The House of Fraser sale is packed full of Christmas present prospects with toys, watches and jewellery and kitchen appliances all in the sale.
10. Debenhams
Department store Debenhams has also dramatically dropped prices for the event, kitchen appliances, perfumes and furniture have all faced the price chop.
11. Halfords
Get on your bike at Halfords with great deals on car and bike accessories as well as offers on adult and kid's bicycles.
12. Currys
Currys is a one stop shop for electrical items this Black Friday with reductions on TVs, laptops and speakers.
13. ASOS
This Black Friday ASOS is offering 20 per cent off everything on its site.
14. Very.co.uk
Very.co.uk have cut the price of some fun gifts including a jukebox now at £69.99 from £149, as well as great deals on clothes and accessories from their V by Very range.
15. Smyth's
Head to Smyth's for some cracking deals on children's games and toys.
16. B&Q
Dropping prices of DIY products and tools B&Q are embracing Black Friday this year, lawnmowers and leaf blowers have big reductions and there are kid's toys featured in the sale too.
17. Toys R Us
Toys R Us have cut prices across the store with toys, games and baby products all reduced in the sale.
18. Mothercare
Highchairs and prams are heavily reduced in the Mothercare sale, as well as toys and children's clothes.
19. Morrisons
Morrisons is the ideal place to get hold of some bargain booze with a 3L bottle of Jack Daniels costing just £50, they are also stocking a whole Serrano ham leg for the discounted price of £28.
One-click spending
We've all done it - Amazon's One Click feature makes impulse purchases far too easy, and for other sites, it's usually a simple case of entering login details.
You're encouraged to spend more because you don't have to spend time re-entering your card details for every single purchase.
To avoid, don't let websites save your payment or delivery details, and delete them if you're already saved. If you've memorised your card number, cancel it and and order a new one.
Next time you'll be forced to think twice when you hit the checkout button.
Signing up for marketing emails and newsletters
It's too easy to end up signing up to newsletters for lots of different online shops.
Not only do they clog up your inbox but they entice you back to their website with discounts and other offers.
To avoid, don't give out your email address in physical and online stores. If you need to give your email address out to sign up to an account make sure you either tick a box saying you don't want to be contacted with offers.
If you're already signed up to loads, change you email preferences online through your account or click "unsubscribe" on any of the emails they've sent.
Suggesting complimentary products
Some sites suggest items that compliment each other, making you consider purchases you didn't plan for. For example, clothing retailers might show you similar items or shoes that go with a dress you're looking at.
To avoid, add these complimentary items if you are considering them to a wish list. Make yourself wait 30 days - if you still want it after then , buy it.
You can also try tools like StayFocusd, an internet extension that closes your window after an allotted time, limiting the time you spend shopping online.
Low stock alerts
Some websites display how many items they have in stock, which can make you feel like it's your last chance to get your hands on one.
To avoid it, try not to be drawn in - most items are likely to be restocked within three days at big retailers.
You can also check if there is stock available in store or at other stores, giving you confidence that you have more time to think about the purchase.
Adverts of products you've recently browsed
You've probably noticed that sometimes after you're looking at something on the internet an advert for the same item or similar will pop up on the next website you visit or on social networks.
This strategy is known as re-targeting, where companies pay for their products to "follow" around the web in a bid to make you think about buying them.
To avoid, clear your web browser's cache of cookies, which store data about your browsing habits. You should also clear your internet browsing history.
To avoid having to do this, shop online using "incognito" or private versions of your browser.
These don't store information about sites you visit and can usually be accessed from your browser's menu.
Page-wide 'sale' banners
Online shops frequently display bright sale banners across their sites in a bid to draw you in, because everyone loves a bargain - and it wouldn't hurt to look, would it?
In fact it makes it much more tempting - so avoid it by writing down a shopping list before searching the internet for the item you want.
Also, despite sales looking tempting, a lot of the time they are only for shifting unpopular stock and are probably not worth your time.
Placing an extraordinarily priced item next to a slightly less expensive item
This tactic is known as anchor pricing, and can make the price of a cheaper item seem like good value for money when it might not be.
To avoid, always read item reviews to try and gauge whether the item is priced correctly. and shop around for the same product elsewhere.
Use comparison tools such as to check the cheapest price on the internet and ensure you're not being ripped off.
Free returns
Lots of websites advertise free returns, which sounds great.
It is if you need to use it, but it also encourages you to spend more - because you know if it doesn't fit or suit then you can easily send it back without paying any extra for the inconvenience.
To avoid, look into the returns process and see how inconvenient it is before you buy anything.
You can also limit your online shopping to sites where you know and trust the products, making you less likely to rely on free returns.
Offering sign-up deals for getting a store card
It's easy to be offered a store card which offers a great discount up-front, but the reality is it makes you think like you're getting something for nothing and could a route into debt if you're not careful.
To avoid, always make full payments within a month so get the benefits but don't have to pay interest.
You should also close the account after the balance has been paid - that way you benefit from the sign up offers but can resist temptation.
Changing the price based on your location
This is one of the sneakiest tricks retailers use on the internet. Known as dynamic pricing, sites can change how much they charge for something based on your location and browser history.
For example, flights are an easy way for airlines to make extra cash.
They may originally tout them at a low price, but next time you go to book they bump them up because they know you're considering them.
To avoid, browse in incognito or private mode so sites can't store your browsing data. Always shop around to get the price and order items by customer reviews to find the best quality, regardless of price.
Arranging products to get rid of stock
When you go on a website, chances are the items top of the site are not the best value.
Retailers encourage you to spend more on these by making them unavoidable.
But instead of browsing randomly, always order on price (low to high) and check reviews.
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